Fuel-supply apparatus for internal-combustion engines



Jan. 9, 1923.

R. R. BOLLMAN. FUEL SUPPLY APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL. CoMBUsTloN ENGINES.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FILED OCT.

@113.01m eq Jan. 9, 1923. 1,441,209

A R. R. BOLLMAN.

FUEL SUPPLY APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL CoMEUsTloN ENmNEs.

F1 LED Oc'r. 3. l 91 9. v 2 s|1EETs-s11EE1--` 2 Patented Jan. 9, 1923.

UNITEDl STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

ROLAND R. BOLLMAN, OFCINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES F. HAGAN, OF

. BBJIS'IOL, VIRGINIA.

`FUEL-SUPPLY APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION NGINES.

Application filed October 3, 1919. Serial No. 328,325.v

To al? whom t may concern:

Be it knownthat I, RoLAND It. BOLLMAN, citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati. in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Supply Apparatus for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to improvements in fuel regulating apparatus for internal combustion engines. One of its objects is to provide improved meansto supply preheatedair to be introduced between the carburetter and the engine to secure a more perfect mixture and complete v'aporization. Another object is to provide a supply of preheated air and preheated water vapor to be introduced between the carburctter and engine. Another obj ect is to provide in combination with a supply of air, preferably preheated, and a vsupply of water vapor, preferably preheated, means controllable by lthe operator whereby air only, or any desired mixture of air and water vapor may be introduced with the fuel into the engine, preferably between the carburetter and the engine. Another object is to provide means to automatically regulate and introduce air or air and water vapor, preferablybetween the earburetter and the engine. Another object is to provide improved means to provide a supply of preheated air and preheated water vapor to be introduced with the fuel to the engine. Another object is to provide improved means to automatically regulate the air supply. Another object is toiprovide improved means in connection with the introduction of air or water vapor to intercept unvolatilized fuel. and to effect its wilatilization. .\nother object is to provide improved means to introduce said means convenientlv into existing mechanisms. My invention alse comprises certain details of form.` combination, and arrangement, all. of which will be fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which? Fig. 1 is a. side elevation of a carburetter and. part of a manifold of'anfinternal coni hustion engine with a portion of my iinproved apparatus applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central 'vertical section through' a, `portion ofthe apparatus of Fig. 1.`

Fig; 3 isa plan of one of the packing washers detached. l

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the air orwater vapor admitting and fuel vaporizing member detached.

Fig. 5 is a plan of another packing washer detached.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a spacing ring detached.

' Fig. 7 isa plan of one of the wirescreen disks detached.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of anengine with my improved apparatus applied thereto.

Fig. 9 is a diagram partly in section of the apparatus of Fig. 8.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention,` in which A represents a carburetter for an internal combustion engine, and B represents a manifold therefor. A butterfly valve 14 is preferably interposed in the passage leading` from the ca-rburetter to the manifold and said valve may be manually actuated to ouen close or oartiall' close said valve through a crank arm 15, and a rod not shown connected thereto. interposed between the carburetter and manifold is an annular member 16. with a packing ring or washer l7'on one side and a packing ring or washer .18 on the other side, said members 16,17, and 16 being clamped in position with reference to the carburetter and manifold by means of two bolts 19 passing through perforations in said members 16, 17, and 18 at opposite sides thereof, and through correspondingly perforated ears 20 and 21 on the carburetter and manifold, said ears 2O and 21 being those ordinarily employed to secure the manifold directly to the carburetter, thus providing fer readily introducing the members 16, 17. and 18, by separating the carburetter from the manifold a. sufficient distance to permit the introduction of said members between the carburetter and manifold.v

` The member 16 is counter-bored fromv one side so as to leave an inwardly directed flange 29. at one face thereof. One or more wire screen disks 24, preferably two at each side are seated against the flange 22, and

a spacing ring 25. The spacing ring is illus* e a perforation in place of the gap 25 to servel the purpose o t admitting( the air or water Vapor to the interior oi ineinber lf3. The second pair ot Wire screen disks 26 are scated in a shallouY recess 27 in the opjl'wsite face oi: n'ieinber 16 and bear 'lirin'ly against the edge olf the rior` 25. Said screen disks i236 are held in place by the packing ring- 17 against accidental" displaceruent. The inember 16 is provided with a downwardly directed tubular projection 28, preferably termed integrally therewith and externally threaded to receive and engage a cap 29 provided with threadedr tubular projections 29 and 29 to Which conduits may be coupled to supply respectively air and mixed air and water vapor. Vlnternallv the projection 28 is counter-bored to torni a canje Jfor a ball valve Slt which valve is preferably but not necessarily employed. The counter-ooring oft the projection 28 also provides tor torining a valve seat 3l above the hall valve. The cap 29 forms the lower portion ot the valve cage Jfor the valve 30, and is provided with a inain port 32 to which the bores ot the projections 29 andv 29 lead. and a valve seat 33 on which the ball valve il() normally rests and-seats.

A. closed sheet inetal container tached to and supported by a i .te or housing; member fill, which in turn 3cited by bolts il? to the head Allkot 'the ono-ine, said plate el@ extending across the top ol' the exhaust n'ianitold 49 so as to torni a hood or shield over a portion oi2 said exhaust niani'l'olo and exclude dra 'tl oi cold air. To the inner or under tace ot the plate or shield 4,6 are attached 'three Iivi/eating;coils 50. l, and 52, as to occupy positions in close Contact with said exhaust manifold and to be heated thereby while protected troni drafts of cold air ly 'he plate 4K6, Upon the dash-board of an automobile for instance, or in a position. conveniently.

rockn to the coil or tube fill. where the air heated and then conducted to the inlet ifl' ot the can Q99 the unheated louer portion sail coilor conduit 50 bein@ insulated er ternally to insure the re Yhe cap l ieated condition` $35 pro! l in vides ,for independently regulating` or eutirely cutting` uit the supply olZ air through vthe conduit 5l).

The cock 56 is indejnindently regulated to supply atmospheric air through the coilA or conduit 51, Where the'air is preheated and then conductedl into the container and below the surface of, a body of water in said, container. The heated air bubbling up through the water in the container 45 serves to heat said body of Water, which also receives a crtain aniount of heat from the engine and exhaust n'iani'lold, so that considerable water vapor is given oli from the water in said, container and carried away by the curren't'of air passing through said container troni the coil 51 to the coil 52. The mired air and Water vapor ,in its passagre through the conduit 52 is further heated or superheated so as to erteithe cap l2S) through the port 29 as a heated gas or vapor, and in condition toassist in vaporizcing any unvaporized tuel it' may come in contact with, and to readily and completely ini); with the fuel Vapor on its Way to the ei gine. The lower portion ot the conduit is' externally insulated to avoid chilling or cooling` of the air and vapor current passingrk thereinto the cap 29. The cocks 55 and 56 may be independently manually adjusted to supply heated air only or any desired proportion of heated air and Water vapor to the cap to be introduced and inizred with the tueL and also provide by inea-ns of 'the pointers and index plates for resetting` the respective cocks at any predetermined j iositions best suited for the operating' conditions which may be encountered, and which are subject to trefjucnt changes. such as changes oi temperature and moisture contents in the external atmosphere. The container l5 has a screw cap (30 through vwhich the Water supply ot said container may be renewed 'from time to time? and a deine 59 to insure a supply ot water vapor tree from Water to the conduit. 52.

ln operation air admitted at Ll0 to the rarbaretter, and liquid fuel is admitted to the carburetter at ill, and its flou' to the air channel or conduit is regulated by a needle valve 412. The mixed air and tuel, partly as a vapor, and partly as a inist, passes ou. throujg'h the Valve 'il toward the manifold. Any inist or unvanorized"tuel in attclnjitiuo 'lo pass through the u'ire screens Qland 26, `which are preit'erably but not necessarily employed. tends to deposit upon the surfaces et said wire as a thin lilu ol" liouifl iluel exposing); :i laroge surface lo the :iii: and illus beine; niore readil), reni. ed to a vapor. Also` uprin being brow/1t into Contact or mixture with the heated air or inirei air and rater Y:apor` vrhethe the VWire sc 'eens are employe! or nel; such unisi and conrerted toa true vapor, l tion of a inist instead ol :i vapor at the car bui-fetter is promoted by a higher s-uuftirui or vacuum therein particularly in cool Weather. The admission oi the air. particularly when preheated air or mixed air and water vapor is employed, through the cap 29 into the chamber 35 of member 1,6 tends to convert any fuel which has reached the chamber 35 f ico l l (l menace in a misty state into a true vapor. VAir or .uuxed air and water vapor admitted at this `point, and under the'.` conditions of its regulation andadmission also tends to secure complete combustion of the fuel in theengine, and consequently' fuel economy, fand to avoid the formation or deposit ofcarbonl in the engine cylinders p `The Weight of the ball valve when employed is suiiicient to keep the port 32'c'losed` until a predetermined state of suction or yvacuum hasjbeen .reached Within the inanifold and chamber 35, whereupon the valve is lifted -troni itsnlouier seat 33 and admits air or mixed air and Water vapor to the l chamber 35 to mix with the fuel therein, and

to assist in vaporizing any unvaporized fuel which may exit as globules or films upon the Wire screens or inteiior of member 16. The body of Water in the container l5 also serves to prevent lair or \vater vapor being drawn'through conduit until a certain degree of suction is exerted upon the manifold. For ymedium vacuum or suction, the ball valve 30 is liftedfrom its lower seat 33 and `does not reach or seat upon its upper seat 31,

. and in `this manner provides vfor 'the introfold. stance, there is not sufficient suction or Vacductioniof a rich fuel, mixture to the inani- Thus iny starting the engine for inuumto lift valve 30 from vits seat 33, and a mixture rich in fuel suitable to start the vengine is furnished. `Under ordinary running conditions the valve 30 automatically regulates andadmits air or mixed air and Water vapori'to provide a vaporous mixture not 'too richin fuel, and suited to Yan economical. operation of the engine with complete combustion, While the cocks provide for y .regulation of `the vvproportion `ofwater vapor until'by sound and other indications, or previous experience, a close approximation to perfect combustion .in the e rine attained. For hill climbing and hein,y duty. the valve 3() automatically seats upon. its upper seat 3l to lprovide a rich fuel mixture capable of delivering more tion Without departing from the principle said container to supply heated air in Contact l t also results iu arresting und preventing the formation and accuu'iulation of deposits of carbon in the cylinders, and thereby effeots several important economies in time, Wear, and expense.

l am also enabled to readily and conveniently introduce my improved mixing apparatus into existing mechanisms, or to remove it therefrom, thus providing for its extensive use on automobiles'and other mechanisms 75 heretofore manufactured and in operation. The' apparatus herein illustrated and described is capable of considerable modifica of my invention. y

il/That l claim is:

l. A fuel supply apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, carburetter, la main fuel conduit leading from the carburetter to the engine, a container' provided ivith Water to furnish Water vapor to mix vviththe fuel, an air supply conduit having a heated section and With its exit termi nating'beneath the surface of the Water in with said Water, and a conduit leading from said container above thewater level to said main fuel supply conduit and having` a heated section, to supply preheated mixed air and Water vapor to said main fuel conduit. l v2. Alfuel supply apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising a' carburetter, a main fuel conduit leading from the n carburetter to the engine, a container pro-rv vided with a Water supply to furnish Water `vapor to mix with the fuel, an air supply conduit having aheated section connected to said Water container to sup-ply preheated air to said container, and an air supply conduit leading from said ivater container to said main fuel supply conduit and having a heated` section, to supply preheated mixed air and Wat-er vapor from said Water container to said main fuel conduit. l

3. A. fuel supply apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, a carbu retter, a main fuel supply conduit leadingfrom said carbiirctter to the engine, a con -tainer provided with a water supply to ful'- y nisli water vapor toniix willi the fuel, an

fair supply conduit having a heated section and connected to said water container to supply preheated airto said container, i cock manually operable to regulate the air supply to said water container, and un air suppl).v conduit leading from said eater #ou taiuer to said main fuel coiuluit and liavu t heated section, to supply a regulated. amount ot preheated mixed air and Water vapor fromv said water container to said main fuel conduit. p

l. fuel supply ap`,iniiat.i.` for internal. combustion engines comprising, a carburetter, a main fuel supply conduit leading from said carburetter to the engine, a consupply preheated air to said container, an

"air supply conduit leading from said Water container to said inain fuel conduit and having a heated section to supply preheated mixed air and water vapor from said container to said main fuel conduit, an independent air supp y conduit having a heated section. to supply preheated air unmixed with water vapor to said main 'fuel conduit, and independently manually operable coclrs to predetermine the amount ot air supplied through said respective air conduits.

A fuel supply apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, a carbuietter, a main i'uel supply conduit leading 'from said carhui'ette to the engine, a container provided with a Water supply to urnish Water vapor to uur; with the iuel, an air supply conduit ha" .ng heated section and connected to said Water container to supply preheated air to said container, an air .supply conduit lead: .l troni said Water container to said main iuel conduit and having a heated section to supply*preheated mixed air and Water vapor from said container to said main fuel conduit, an independent air supply conduit having a heated section to supply preheated air unniifcf'L with water vapor to said main iiuel conduit, an automatically actuated valve to prevent the introduction ot air or .vatei vepw ,said main fue-l conduit except under 'predetei'mined suction conditions, and independently manually operable coels to predeterinine the amount ot air supplied 'through said respective air conduits. i

(3. ln combination with an internal coinhustion engine, a carhuretter, and a main fuel supply conduit from the calhuretter to the engine, a supply apparatus comprising a housing member detachahly connected to the engine and forming a housing over a poi-tion of the engine Water container to supply Water vapor to inizi with the fuel mounted upon said housing, an air supply conduit leading to said container havinf" a section carried hy said housing in poition to he heated 'from said exhaust inanil'ohil and protected by said. housing -from cool air currents, 'and an air conduit having a section carried hy said housing in position to be heated from said exhaust manifold, a

said housing and in position to he heated exhaust manifold and protected; hy. said housing from cool air currents to conduct preheated mixed airx and Water vapor from said container to said main fuel conduit.

7. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a carburetter, and a main fuel supply conduit from the carhuretter to the engine, a supply apparatus comprising a housing member detachably connected to the engine and forming a housing over a rportion ot the engine i'or air heating conduits, a -water container to supply Water vapor to mix With the fuel mounted upon said housing, an air supply conduit leading to said container having a section carried by and protected by said housing and in position to be heated from-said engine, an air supply conduit having a section carried by and protected hy said housing and in position to loe heated from said engine to supply preheated mixed air and Water 'vapor from said container to said main fuel conduit, and an independent air supply conduit having e section carried by and protected by said housing and in position to be heated from said engine to supply preheated air to said main Jnel supply conduit.

8. In combination With an internal combustion engine, a carburetter, and a main 'fuel supply conduit from the earhuretter'to the engine, a supply apparatus comprising a luousing niemeer detachably vconnected to the engine and forming a housing over a portion oi' the engine for vair heating conduits, a Water container to supply Waiter from said engine to supply preheated air to said main fuel supply conduit,v and means to control the preheated air supplf and the preheated mixed air and Water vapor supply to said main fuel conduit,

in testimony whereof I have ailixed iny signature.

aon-inn na BOLLMAN. 

